Pars plana vitrectomy and intravitreal phacoemulsification for dropped nuclei

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Complicated cataract surgery can lead to dropped nuclei or nuclear fragments, posing significant visual risks.
• Management of dislocated nuclei requires specialized surgical techniques to prevent further ocular damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with intravitreal phacoemulsification for managing dropped nuclei/fragments.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of this combined approach in improving visual acuity.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series reviewed 22 patients who underwent PPV and intravitreal phacoemulsification.
• A conventional phacoemulsification probe with an amputated sleeve was utilized for nuclear fragment removal.
• Pre- and postoperative visual acuity and complications were meticulously recorded.

Main Results:

• The mean age of patients was 71.1 years, with a mean follow-up of 105.5 days.
• Best corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 2.4 logMAR preoperatively to 1.4 logMAR postoperatively (P<0.001).
• Intraoperative complications included three cases of iatrogenic retinal breaks; postoperative complications were infrequent and manageable.

Conclusions:

• Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and intravitreal phacoemulsification are effective in managing dropped nuclei after complicated cataract surgery.
• The technique offers significant visual improvement with a favorable safety profile, with no probe-related complications observed.